Upcoming Mercedes-Benz A Class To Launch New Engine Lineup

Mercedes-Benz has made no secret of the significance of its upcoming compact vehicles, including the new A Class sedan. According to AutoCarthe significance will extend beyond the vehicles themselves to include the launch of an all-new gas engine lineup from the Mercedes brand.

The report states that the upcoming A Class sedan and other planned compact models will debut all-new 1.2 and 1.4-liter gas engines. The engines, known as the M282 program internally, have spawn from Daimler AG’s alliance with Renault-Nissan. Both are slated to be four-cylinders with the mission of being mounted transversely under the hood, meaning these small displacement mills aren’t likely to see use in larger Mercedes models.

There’s also speculation the new engines will spawn new 1.6 and 2.0-liter four-cylinder engines at Mercedes, the latter displacement of which is currently used in the AMG45 versions of Mercedes-Benz’s current compact vehicles.

The new engine lineup is not only a product of the company’s alliance, but also of a concerted effort to increase fuel economy on its compact models. Like all automakers, Mercedes is under pressure to meet ever-increasing fuel economy standards globally.

The four-generation A Class is slated to launch in mid-2018 in some global markets, including the first-ever A Class sedan. Subsequent new versions of the B Class, CLA and GLA are also expected. They too will utilize the new family of gas four-cylinder engines.

About Nick Saporito

AutoVerdict Senior Editor Nick Saporito began writing about cars at age 13. Nick ran a couple of automotive enthusiast sites for several years, before taking some time off to focus on his career and education. By day he's a marketing executive in the telecom world and by night he hangs out here at AV. You'll find him focusing on tech, design and the industry's future.